Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-10-13


up in his arms in her night dress She did
not open her lips, and her eyes were fixed
until stranger would have said she had lost
her reason. "You are not awake yet, and
you are cross" said Roger. "Cuddle down
and SO to sleep again, Mademoiselle," kissing
her again and covering her up carefully.
"Ah" said he in an indifferent tone. uthis
murder of our neighbor-have they found
out anything about who did itg'
Il do not know; the commissionnaire of the
police came here yesterday to question u.s."
"Youp exclaimed Roger energetically.
81, Suzanne and the servants
"And to what endg
"As there was a pistol shot fired in the
house SO close to ours, they might naturally
suppose we heard it and that we rose and
perhaps saw something
"That is so.'
'But you, Roger, said she, trembling. show
did you know about this murder, since you
left here yesterday morning before it was
discoveries"
when came homo last night the chief of
the railroad station told me what he knew
little in fact, not even the mans na,ne.n
Our neighbor was named Laronette.n
Roger turned brusquely as he heard this
name and turned pale
what did you say his name wasp
'Larouette / heard that during the day. n
swell, that is strange" murmered Roger:
and he remained silent few minutes. and
then said:
do they know the motive of this murder9''
Robbery, without doubt" answered she.
looking full into his eyes; but he did not re-
mark her singular emotion, and he bit his lips
in preoccupied manner AT last he took his
hat and cane.
Excuse me, he said hurriedly; ~ must go
or shall miss my train" Henriette did not
not answer She felt as If she must cry out
to him, "Flyl Quit France. You will not
escape justice. Come no more where am
You horrify mel Do not soil the forehead Of
my child with your assassin's kissesl"
But instead of going direct to the train
Roger went to the mayors Office and sent his
card to the commissary, who had just re-
turned from Versailles, asking private
interview with him Immediately They led
him before Lacroix, who indicated chair
without speaking The magistrates heart
beat little faster than usual. What had
Roger Laroque come here to dol What au-
dacious plan had he conceived, who was con-
sidered to have been. the murderer of Larou-
ettea He feared trap and was on his guard.
"Sir," said Roger, II have come to give
you, on the subject of the crime which has
been committed so near my nome, an indica-
ton which may be of service to you. have
just heard the name of the victim Day be-
fore yesterday l was obliged to pay over $780,
600 francs to a man of the same name. The
coincidence is curious, only my creditor lived
in Paris, Rue Saint Roch, or at least he had
an apartment there. AS that payment
troubled me greatly had during the last few
days several meetings with Larouette; there
fore should know if it was my creditor and
if you wish
Mr.. Laci Dix interrupted him with the great
ct calm:
"That will be unnecessary, NJ. Laroque,
as the Larouette who was assassinated was
the same to whom you paid the 10000
francs"
"How do you knowF
81 found among his papers your letters
wherein YOU speak of this payment, and 1
thank you for the interest you show. Allow
me, however, to ask you few questions
Did Larouette in his dealings with you en-
ploy an intermediary"
"No; he came alone and saw no one but
myself"
"Do you know anything about the details
of his daily life? His habits-his vicesl"
81 never saw him until two weeks ago. The
money in question was loaned me by an old
friend of my fathers, Celestin Vaubernon,
Larouette's uncle, who died suddenly a few
weeks ago. The only thing l know is that
NJ. Vaubernon did not like his nephew,
though | do not know why. And to judge
by my dealings with Larouette, Vaubernon's
relations with his nephew could not have been
agreeable | found him hard, Implying and
very i'll bredn
II suppose you can give me description of
the checks, drafts or notes which make up the
sum you paid him. That would be of great
assistance to u.s."
Behind his blue glasses the eyes of the
magistrate watched Laroque keenly, but he
never seemed to know anything of that
scrutiny
Laroque took leave, saying; II will confer
with my cashier, who is the only one who can
give you those details;'' and from there he
hurried to the train. M. Lacroix watched
him as he went out in the direction
of the depot, saying to HIMSELF "You are
sharp, but you have come too near the fire,
and you will get burnt.
Then he took sheet of official paper and
wrote few lines upon it, and at the bottom
he added: ''You will also bring Miss SUI
zanne," and sent it to the Villa Montalais, adj
dressed to Henriette When Henriette re-
ceived it she trembled from head to foot. This
was legal form, filled out in such a manner
as left her no possible choice or excuse. She
must 60 What did NJ. Lacroix want? TIC
question, TO torture her again; to question
Suzanne again9 Victoria had not returned,
therefore she had told all. All at once she
revolted against the persistence of the COM
missionnaire and sort Of cold anger took pos
session of her. She left Suzanne at the villa
and went alone. NJ. Lacroix was alone when
she arrived
Il am here, sir,n said she, bravely. @You
sent for me.n
ayes; but 1 asked you to bring your
daughter"
Suzanne is i'll; besides, she is but a child
What have you TO say to met In what man.
ner can be Of service to your
aYou shall know, madame. wish to know
from you regarding this murder not only the
truth, but the whole truth, without hesitation
or reticence."
II shall have nothing to add to my deposi-
ton Of yesterday"
THAT is falsehood.n
''Sir!r said she, rising.
He made gesture of reinsurance, and then
with the same hardness repeated, "You are
not telling the truthful have the proof Of it. "
81 have nothing to add, nothing to retract.
Then he repeated word for word the .testi-
mony of Victoria, which was exact and
truthful; but to this again she answered:
can that, sir. is a tissue Of foolish inven-
tons. Victoria must be insane. Besides, you
certainly cannot oblige me to tell you things
neither saw nor heard"
mo, madame, cannot. Even the deposit
ton you make l can only use under the form
Of a report, for the law forbids me to accept as
irregular witness any relation, father, mother.
daughter or wife, of one whom / suspect
strongly of being the guilty one am in
search Off